December cold, snowy? Survey says yes indeed

The Illinois Water Survey said today last December was the 12th coldest on record in Illinois. The average daily temperature was 24 degrees. That's 5.8 degrees colder than normal.

Snowfall also was above average across the state. The heaviest totals were in central and northwest Illinois. A little over 20 inches fell in the Champaign-Urbana area, 18.1 inches fell in Bloomington-Normal, 19.2 inches blanketed Peoria and 19.2 inches covered Rockford.

Despite the inflated figures for snowfall, precipitation was actually a below normal. The Champaign-based Illinois Water Survey said statewide precipitation for the month was 1.8 inches, almost an inch below average.